Computer Spec for GPL

Hi all, Due to coming into a bit of extra money, I am thinking of building a new computer which will be used for GPL only. I do race GPL on-line as well as on my own. What recommendations do people have as to the hardware: MoBo Processor Memory Video Card Sound Card etc. Racing is life......anything before or after is just waiting Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) Le Mans 1970 -- Lee Ward E-mail: [email hidden] GPLFD TEAM CHAD - You can count on us. EUROF2 LADS RACING - Old enough to know better.

Assuming the machine is really for GPL *only*, I would recommend- Voodoo 5 5500 AGP if you want to use FSAA (anti-aliasing), otherwise Voodoo 3 3000 AGP. GF2 gts/pro also an option here. The V3/V5 still rule in GPL. P3/P4/Athlon as fast as you can afford. No less than 256 MB RAM. M/B depends on which CPU of course (but look for ATA-100 support and AGP 4x) SBLive! soundcard. Windows 98/ME Good luck :) "Lee Ward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Hi all, > > Due to coming into a bit of extra money, I am thinking of building a new > computer which will be used for GPL only. I do race GPL on-line as well > as on my own. > > What recommendations do people have as to the hardware: > > MoBo > Processor > Memory > Video Card > Sound Card > etc. > > Racing is life......anything before or after is just waiting > Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) Le Mans 1970 > -- > Lee Ward E-mail: [email hidden] > > GPLFD TEAM CHAD - You can count on us. > EUROF2 LADS RACING - Old enough to know better. >

hi I wouldn't have thought GPL would push any modern spec PC. I only have a K6-2 550 128mb Voodoo 3, SB live and have no troubles. if I had a 1.4 ghz I still wouldn't be able to drive ;o) Cheers Martin "Lee Ward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Hi all, > > Due to coming into a bit of extra money, I am thinking of building a new > computer which will be used for GPL only. I do race GPL on-line as well > as on my own. > > What recommendations do people have as to the hardware: > > MoBo > Processor > Memory > Video Card > Sound Card > etc. > > Racing is life......anything before or after is just waiting > Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) Le Mans 1970 > -- > Lee Ward E-mail: [email hidden] > > GPLFD TEAM CHAD - You can count on us. > EUROF2 LADS RACING - Old enough to know better. >

Ok, here's what I bought recently and it *screams* for GPL, and wasn't TOO expensive. I have every option cranked (except driver arms), run at 1280x1024 and get max fps everywhere except starting from the back against a full field of AI. Mobo: ASUS A7M266 (now out of production but as far as I know the A7A is just as good if not better) Processor: Athlon 1333 (TBird). Memory: Micron 256MB PC1600 DDR (the PC2100 wasn't available at the time) Video card: Hercules Prophet II Ultra 64MB DDR (GeForce II Ultra). I agonized over that card vs. the GF3, but decided the GF3 was still immature, and GPL doesn't do DirectX 8 anyway. Sound card: I kept my old Diamond Monster MX300, which works fine. I think most people will tell you to get a SB Live of some kind. HD: Maxtor 7200 rpm With tax, etc. that cost me around $2200 Canadian. I'm sure you could cut some $ off that, but I only buy a PC ever 3-4 years so I can live with not getting the absolute best deal ;) Without sparking any religious debates I'd like to suggest the following: 1. Athlon is the clear price/performance winner over Intel 2. For GPL alone, a Voodoo 5 may be the better price/performance but let's face it, Voodoo is dead. A GF2 or GF3 is the card for the next few years. If you're like me you'll agonize over whether to get the GF2 or GF3. When I bought my PC, the GF3 was slower than the GF2 Ultra but that's no longer the case. Future games are gonna love the GF3. "Lee Ward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Hi all, > > Due to coming into a bit of extra money, I am thinking of building a new > computer which will be used for GPL only. I do race GPL on-line as well > as on my own. > > What recommendations do people have as to the hardware: > > MoBo > Processor > Memory > Video Card > Sound Card > etc.

Lee.... Build the best computer you can for the money you have to spend. It will still run GPL (might allow you to go up to high res tracks, wheels and cockpits....and still get max FPS too).....but you will be putting yourself in a position to easily run N4....or WSC in the near future. I'm building seven "race boxes" right now for some of our staff.....and a couple "customers"......these guys have essentially unlimited funds......so that is not an issue. Here's the specs on these (they are all exactly the same) and I've put the estimated item cost in parenthesis (USD), since that information is fresh at the moment (I've bought all this stuff in the last 10-days): **Mobo: MSI's K7 Master - I use this mobo because it allows over-clocking the CPU with either changing the FSB or the clock multiplier and it has an AMD northbridge chipset (761) instead of VIA northbridge. ($155) **CPU: AMD Athlon 1.333 "blue core" - I have several of these and easily get about 1.7 ghz out of them (at 38 C) on the above mobo - change the clock multiplier on the K7 Master...***NOT the FSB!*** ($120 OEM) **CPU Cooler: Swiftech MC462 (with ArcticSilver grease) - This is the best CPU cooler, no contest...for the price - You have to take a nick out of one of the corners to clear a pot on the K7 Master....but this takes 10 minutes with a file or a Dremmel tool. ($100) **RAM: 512 mb, PC2100 (two sticks of 256 mb). ($110) **Power Supply: Antec PP403X 400w - This is the best ps on the market in my opinion. It has 245 w across the +5V and the 3.3V which is as much as triple the competition. ($100) **Case: InWin (full tower) ATX (without power supply) - I love these cases, even though these "race boxes" have minimums for H-drivers, CD and so forth (they are not used for anything but sim racing), these InWin cases have slide out mobo trays, soft-rolled steel edges and tons of room inside for air flow. They are my favorite case for building pure "race boxes." ($55) **Fans & thermal sensor: 3 each 90 mm FHO case fans (one "intake" & two "exhaust"), 1 each 120 mm FHO case fan (side mount - blow hole), 1 thermal sensor probe - digital LCD read out (mounts on front of case, free standing probe above video card in center of case to measure internal case temps - air flow temps). ($100 - total fan package) Note: I buy all my fans from www.1coolpc.com and have been doing so since 1997. These guys are the best....but not the cheapest....but for service and great fans that are quiet...you can't beat them...in my experience at least. (Note: If you buy fans from 1coolpc....tell Bart (the owner) in the order note pad area that "Tom Pabst sent you to his site from the r.a.s. newsgroup" and he'll give you a big break on the shipping costs. And, "no" I'm not getting paid to say that! Bart and his wife run this small business from home. They are great people and they search and research for better fans constantly. They are a small business and I'm recommending them because of the quality of their fans...and their customer service. No other reason!) **IDE Cables: IDE-HD, IDE-CD and floppy - wrapped/sealed. These increase air flow inside the case by 30 to 50% and produce internal case temps 10 to 15 degrees lower than standard ribbon cables. I buy these at *1coolpc* as well. ($42) **Video: GeForce 3 (Hercules). ($365) **Sound: SB Live 5.1 X-Gamer. ($45) **Drives/storage: I use a standard package of drives for these "race boxes" that's a "no frills" set (these are only used for sim racing...so no "trick" drives is necessary). Usually that's an IBM 40 gig HD, an internal Zip drive, std floppy and around a 40X CD drive. ($225) **LAN/Modem: What ever your ISP or Internet connection requires. ($40) Lee.....I am currently sim racing on a "race box" almost exactly like I've described above. Here's my performance key indicators: ***GPL*** at 1600 screen-res, back of field start at Mexico...full AI fields....all sliders to max....high-res cockpits, wheels and 32 bit tracks = 25 FPS...goes to 36 FPS at the T-1 thin out of the AI field. ***N4*** at 1600 screen-res (OpenGL) with all detail settings to max, sitting in pits - Practice Session - Atlanta (first FPS reading) = 118 FPS ***3DMark2001 Scores*** = 6100's Lee.....as constructed .....these pure "race boxes" are under $1,500. That's a lot of FPS and killer "eye candy" for the price. And, you'll be set to "upgrade" almost at will.....and sitting pretty for WSC when its out. I hope this has been helpful? Regards, Tom Pabst

>P3/P4/Athlon as fast as you can afford. Is there really any benefit to going beyond say 800mhz?

Ulimited funds? I would go with Ultra160 SCSI Hard drives. Bigtime performance advantage over IDE. "Tom Pabst" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:iSee7.1320$[email hidden]... > Lee.... > > Build the best computer you can for the money you have to spend. It will > still run GPL (might allow you to go up to high res tracks, wheels and > cockpits....and still get max FPS too).....but you will be puttingyourself > in a position to easily run N4....or WSC in the near future. I'm building > seven "race boxes" right now for some of our staff.....and a couple > "customers"......these guys have essentially unlimited funds......so thatis > not an issue. Here's the specs on these (they are all exactly the same)and

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> I've put the estimated item cost in parenthesis (USD), since that > information is fresh at the moment (I've bought all this stuff in the last > 10-days): > > **Mobo: MSI's K7 Master - I use this mobo because it allows over-clocking > the CPU with either changing the FSB or the clock multiplier and it has an > AMD northbridge chipset (761) instead of VIA northbridge. ($155) > > **CPU: AMD Athlon 1.333 "blue core" - I have several of these and easily > get about 1.7 ghz out of them (at 38 C) on the above mobo - change the > clock multiplier on the K7 Master...***NOT the FSB!*** ($120 OEM) > > **CPU Cooler: Swiftech MC462 (with ArcticSilver grease) - This is the

best > CPU cooler, no contest...for the price - You have to take a nick out ofone > of the corners to clear a pot on the K7 Master....but this takes 10minutes > with a file or a Dremmel tool. ($100) > > **RAM: 512 mb, PC2100 (two sticks of 256 mb). ($110) > > **Power Supply: Antec PP403X 400w - This is the best ps on the market inmy > opinion. It has 245 w across the +5V and the 3.3V which is as much as > triple the competition. ($100) > > **Case: InWin (full tower) ATX (without power supply) - I love thesecases, > even though these "race boxes" have minimums for H-drivers, CD and soforth > (they are not used for anything but sim racing), these InWin cases have > slide out mobo trays, soft-rolled steel edges and tons of room inside for > air flow. They are my favorite case for building pure "race boxes."($55) > > **Fans & thermal sensor: 3 each 90 mm FHO case fans (one "intake" & two > "exhaust"), 1 each 120 mm FHO case fan (side mount - blow hole), 1 thermal > sensor probe - digital LCD read out (mounts on front of case, freestanding > probe above video card in center of case to measure internal case temps - > air flow temps). ($100 - total fan package) Note: I buy all my fansfrom > www.1coolpc.com and have been doing so since 1997. These guys are the > best....but not the cheapest....but for service and great fans that are > quiet...you can't beat them...in my experience at least. (Note: If youbuy > fans from 1coolpc....tell Bart (the owner) in the order note pad area that > "Tom Pabst sent you to his site from the r.a.s. newsgroup" and he'll give > you a big break on the shipping costs. And, "no" I'm not getting paid to > say that! Bart and his wife run this small business from home. They are > great people and they search and research for better fans constantly.They > are a small business and I'm recommending them because of the quality of > their fans...and their customer service. No other reason!) > > **IDE Cables: IDE-HD, IDE-CD and floppy - wrapped/sealed. These increase > air flow inside the case by 30 to 50% and produce internal case temps 10to

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> 15 degrees lower than standard ribbon cables. I buy these at *1coolpc* as > well. ($42) > > **Video: GeForce 3 (Hercules). ($365) > > **Sound: SB Live 5.1 X-Gamer. ($45) > > **Drives/storage: I use a standard package of drives for these "race

boxes" > that's a "no frills" set (these are only used for sim racing...so no"trick"

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> drives is necessary). Usually that's an IBM 40 gig HD, an internal Zip > drive, std floppy and around a 40X CD drive. ($225) > > **LAN/Modem: What ever your ISP or Internet connection requires. ($40) > > Lee.....I am currently sim racing on a "race box" almost exactly like I've > described above. Here's my performance key indicators: > > ***GPL*** at 1600 screen-res, back of field start at Mexico...full AI > fields....all sliders to max....high-res cockpits, wheels and 32 bit

tracks

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> = 25 FPS...goes to 36 FPS at the T-1 thin out of the AI field. > > ***N4*** at 1600 screen-res (OpenGL) with all detail settings to max, > sitting in pits - Practice Session - Atlanta (first FPS reading) = 118 FPS > > ***3DMark2001 Scores*** = 6100's > > Lee.....as constructed .....these pure "race boxes" are under $1,500. > That's a lot of FPS and killer "eye candy" for the price. And, you'll be > set to "upgrade" almost at will.....and sitting pretty for WSC when its

out.

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> > I hope this has been helpful? > > Regards, > > Tom Pabst > > > >

Yeah, I would say there is, I noticed quite a dramatic difference in GPL when upgrading from P3-650 to P3-1000. I can now run the detail bar on 75% (-------+---) instead of 45% (-----+------) and use 3d wheels (draw distance 8), and I still get a higher frame rate (full grid race starts) than on the P3-650 (same video card of course). This is partly because I'm using D3D of course. Voodoo owners might not need the same CPU horsepower. And, you only need this kind of system if you run full-grid races vs the AI. "Art McEwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9lbue5$hrs$[email hidden]... > >P3/P4/Athlon as fast as you can afford. > > Is there really any benefit to going beyond say 800mhz? > > >

Yes, I've just gone from an Athlon clasic 800 @ 900 to a Athlon Tbird 1000 @ 1333 and there is a big difference I can now get 36fps at the back of a full AI field with 2/3 detail, before it would have been about 18fps at that detail. Alex "Art McEwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9lbue5$hrs$[email hidden]... > >P3/P4/Athlon as fast as you can afford. > > Is there really any benefit to going beyond say 800mhz? > > >

Go here www.overclockers.co.uk and get yourself: ASUS A7V266 Mobo �151.58 Athlon AXIA 1Ghz (it will run @ 1.33 with ease) �92.53 Crucial 256MB DDR PC2100 CAS-2.5 �43.59 Asus V8200 GeForce3 Deluxe �314.55 or Leadtek WinFast GeForce2 Pro 64MB �135.60 Creative Soundblaster Live! Player 5.1 �59.93 I would fully recomend OcUK very fast service and very cheap prices (for the uk) Alex Cameron "Lee Ward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Hi all, > > Due to coming into a bit of extra money, I am thinking of building a new > computer which will be used for GPL only. I do race GPL on-line as well > as on my own. > > What recommendations do people have as to the hardware: > > MoBo > Processor > Memory > Video Card > Sound Card > etc. > > Racing is life......anything before or after is just waiting > Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) Le Mans 1970 > -- > Lee Ward E-mail: [email hidden] > > GPLFD TEAM CHAD - You can count on us. > EUROF2 LADS RACING - Old enough to know better. >

That's an awesome price for a GF2 Pro :) btw Insight have a GF3 for �286. "GBB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:TSfe7.27501$[email hidden]...

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> Go here www.overclockers.co.uk and get yourself: > > ASUS A7V266 Mobo �151.58 > Athlon AXIA 1Ghz (it will run @ 1.33 with ease) �92.53 > Crucial 256MB DDR PC2100 CAS-2.5 �43.59 > Asus V8200 GeForce3 Deluxe �314.55 > or > Leadtek WinFast GeForce2 Pro 64MB �135.60 > Creative Soundblaster Live! Player 5.1 �59.93 > > I would fully recomend OcUK very fast service and very cheap prices (for

the > uk) > > Alex Cameron

Tom, do you ship to New Zealand (near Australia!)??! :))) Drool, drool. I can see who I'll be speaking to when I upgrade... :) -- Rob. "Tom Pabst" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:iSee7.1320$[email hidden]... > Lee.... > > Build the best computer you can for the money you have to spend. It will > still run GPL (might allow you to go up to high res tracks, wheels and > cockpits....and still get max FPS too).....but you will be putting yourself > in a position to easily run N4....or WSC in the near future. I'm building > seven "race boxes" right now for some of our staff.....and a couple > "customers"......these guys have essentially unlimited funds......so that is > not an issue. Here's the specs on these (they are all exactly the same) and > I've put the estimated item cost in parenthesis (USD), since that > information is fresh at the moment (I've bought all this stuff in the last > 10-days): > > **Mobo: MSI's K7 Master - I use this mobo because it allows over-clocking > the CPU with either changing the FSB or the clock multiplier and it has an > AMD northbridge chipset (761) instead of VIA northbridge. ($155) > > **CPU: AMD Athlon 1.333 "blue core" - I have several of these and easily > get about 1.7 ghz out of them (at 38 C) on the above mobo - change the > clock multiplier on the K7 Master...***NOT the FSB!*** ($120 OEM) > > **CPU Cooler: Swiftech MC462 (with ArcticSilver grease) - This is the best > CPU cooler, no contest...for the price - You have to take a nick out of one > of the corners to clear a pot on the K7 Master....but this takes 10 minutes > with a file or a Dremmel tool. ($100) > > **RAM: 512 mb, PC2100 (two sticks of 256 mb). ($110) > > **Power Supply: Antec PP403X 400w - This is the best ps on the market in my > opinion. It has 245 w across the +5V and the 3.3V which is as much as > triple the competition. ($100) > > **Case: InWin (full tower) ATX (without power supply) - I love these cases, > even though these "race boxes" have minimums for H-drivers, CD and so forth > (they are not used for anything but sim racing), these InWin cases have > slide out mobo trays, soft-rolled steel edges and tons of room inside for > air flow. They are my favorite case for building pure "race boxes." ($55) > > **Fans & thermal sensor: 3 each 90 mm FHO case fans (one "intake" & two > "exhaust"), 1 each 120 mm FHO case fan (side mount - blow hole), 1 thermal > sensor probe - digital LCD read out (mounts on front of case, free standing > probe above video card in center of case to measure internal case temps - > air flow temps). ($100 - total fan package) Note: I buy all my fans from > www.1coolpc.com and have been doing so since 1997. These guys are the > best....but not the cheapest....but for service and great fans that are > quiet...you can't beat them...in my experience at least. (Note: If you buy > fans from 1coolpc....tell Bart (the owner) in the order note pad area that > "Tom Pabst sent you to his site from the r.a.s. newsgroup" and he'll give > you a big break on the shipping costs. And, "no" I'm not getting paid to > say that! Bart and his wife run this small business from home. They are > great people and they search and research for better fans constantly. They > are a small business and I'm recommending them because of the quality of > their fans...and their customer service. No other reason!) > > **IDE Cables: IDE-HD, IDE-CD and floppy - wrapped/sealed. These increase > air flow inside the case by 30 to 50% and produce internal case temps 10 to > 15 degrees lower than standard ribbon cables. I buy these at *1coolpc* as > well. ($42) > > **Video: GeForce 3 (Hercules). ($365) > > **Sound: SB Live 5.1 X-Gamer. ($45) > > **Drives/storage: I use a standard package of drives for these "race boxes" > that's a "no frills" set (these are only used for sim racing...so no "trick" > drives is necessary). Usually that's an IBM 40 gig HD, an internal Zip > drive, std floppy and around a 40X CD drive. ($225) > > **LAN/Modem: What ever your ISP or Internet connection requires. ($40) > > Lee.....I am currently sim racing on a "race box" almost exactly like I've > described above. Here's my performance key indicators: > > ***GPL*** at 1600 screen-res, back of field start at Mexico...full AI > fields....all sliders to max....high-res cockpits, wheels and 32 bit tracks > = 25 FPS...goes to 36 FPS at the T-1 thin out of the AI field. > > ***N4*** at 1600 screen-res (OpenGL) with all detail settings to max, > sitting in pits - Practice Session - Atlanta (first FPS reading) = 118 FPS > > ***3DMark2001 Scores*** = 6100's > > Lee.....as constructed .....these pure "race boxes" are under $1,500. > That's a lot of FPS and killer "eye candy" for the price. And, you'll be > set to "upgrade" almost at will.....and sitting pretty for WSC when its out. > > I hope this has been helpful? > > Regards, > > Tom Pabst > > > >

I was thinking the same thing... though I'd like mine sent to Belgium, Europe (Mind the different mains voltage/frequency please). ;-)) Jan. =--- "Pay attention when I'm talking to you boy!" -Foghorn Leghorn. "Rob" wrote...

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> Tom, do you ship to New Zealand (near Australia!)??! :))) > Drool, drool. > I can see who I'll be speaking to when I upgrade... :) > > -- > > Rob.

"Rob Adams" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:5wee7.58924 > 2. For GPL alone, a Voodoo 5 may be the better price/performance but let's > face it, Voodoo is dead. A GF2 or GF3 is the card for the next few years.If > you're like me you'll agonize over whether to get the GF2 or GF3. When I > bought my PC, the GF3 was slower than the GF2 Ultra but that's no longerthe > case. Future games are gonna love the GF3. Hi Lee, I would definitely agree with Rob here - although the V5 might rock in GPL you might want to consider a GF2/GF3 which will then also give good performance in future games (WSC, Rally Trophy etc) - the Voodoo is, as Rob says, dead. Hope that helps! Jim

In article <9lbue5$hrs$[email hidden]>, "Art McEwen" <[email hidden]> writes: >>P3/P4/Athlon as fast as you can afford. > >Is there really any benefit to going beyond say 800mhz? Um, more speed?<g> Or at least, more 'overhead' in processing power without straining. Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

HD Transfer rates are not really a critical issue for a gaming box, and theses are built for playing racing sim games... -- Biz "Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and the....." - Ash AJ Tessman <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:3b798c4e$[email hidden]... > Ulimited funds? I would go with Ultra160 SCSI Hard drives. Bigtime > performance advantage over IDE. > > > "Tom Pabst" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:iSee7.1320$[email hidden]... > > Lee.... > > > > Build the best computer you can for the money you have to spend. It will > > still run GPL (might allow you to go up to high res tracks, wheels and > > cockpits....and still get max FPS too).....but you will be putting > yourself > > in a position to easily run N4....or WSC in the near future. I'm building > > seven "race boxes" right now for some of our staff.....and a couple > > "customers"......these guys have essentially unlimited funds......so that > is > > not an issue. Here's the specs on these (they are all exactly the same) > and > > I've put the estimated item cost in parenthesis (USD), since that > > information is fresh at the moment (I've bought all this stuff in the last > > 10-days): > > > > **Mobo: MSI's K7 Master - I use this mobo because it allows over-clocking > > the CPU with either changing the FSB or the clock multiplier and it has an > > AMD northbridge chipset (761) instead of VIA northbridge. ($155) > > > > **CPU: AMD Athlon 1.333 "blue core" - I have several of these and easily > > get about 1.7 ghz out of them (at 38 C) on the above mobo - change the > > clock multiplier on the K7 Master...***NOT the FSB!*** ($120 OEM) > > > > **CPU Cooler: Swiftech MC462 (with ArcticSilver grease) - This is the > best > > CPU cooler, no contest...for the price - You have to take a nick out of > one > > of the corners to clear a pot on the K7 Master....but this takes 10 > minutes > > with a file or a Dremmel tool. ($100) > > > > **RAM: 512 mb, PC2100 (two sticks of 256 mb). ($110) > > > > **Power Supply: Antec PP403X 400w - This is the best ps on the market in > my > > opinion. It has 245 w across the +5V and the 3.3V which is as much as > > triple the competition. ($100) > > > > **Case: InWin (full tower) ATX (without power supply) - I love these > cases, > > even though these "race boxes" have minimums for H-drivers, CD and so > forth > > (they are not used for anything but sim racing), these InWin cases have > > slide out mobo trays, soft-rolled steel edges and tons of room inside for > > air flow. They are my favorite case for building pure "race boxes." > ($55) > > > > **Fans & thermal sensor: 3 each 90 mm FHO case fans (one "intake" & two > > "exhaust"), 1 each 120 mm FHO case fan (side mount - blow hole), 1 thermal > > sensor probe - digital LCD read out (mounts on front of case, free > standing > > probe above video card in center of case to measure internal case temps - > > air flow temps). ($100 - total fan package) Note: I buy all my fans > from > > www.1coolpc.com and have been doing so since 1997. These guys are the > > best....but not the cheapest....but for service and great fans that are > > quiet...you can't beat them...in my experience at least. (Note: If you > buy > > fans from 1coolpc....tell Bart (the owner) in the order note pad area that > > "Tom Pabst sent you to his site from the r.a.s. newsgroup" and he'll give > > you a big break on the shipping costs. And, "no" I'm not getting paid to > > say that! Bart and his wife run this small business from home. They are > > great people and they search and research for better fans constantly. > They > > are a small business and I'm recommending them because of the quality of > > their fans...and their customer service. No other reason!) > > > > **IDE Cables: IDE-HD, IDE-CD and floppy - wrapped/sealed. These increase > > air flow inside the case by 30 to 50% and produce internal case temps 10 > to > > 15 degrees lower than standard ribbon cables. I buy these at *1coolpc* as > > well. ($42) > > > > **Video: GeForce 3 (Hercules). ($365) > > > > **Sound: SB Live 5.1 X-Gamer. ($45) > > > > **Drives/storage: I use a standard package of drives for these "race > boxes" > > that's a "no frills" set (these are only used for sim racing...so no > "trick" > > drives is necessary). Usually that's an IBM 40 gig HD, an internal Zip > > drive, std floppy and around a 40X CD drive. ($225) > > > > **LAN/Modem: What ever your ISP or Internet connection requires. ($40) > > > > Lee.....I am currently sim racing on a "race box" almost exactly like I've > > described above. Here's my performance key indicators: > > > > ***GPL*** at 1600 screen-res, back of field start at Mexico...full AI > > fields....all sliders to max....high-res cockpits, wheels and 32 bit > tracks > > = 25 FPS...goes to 36 FPS at the T-1 thin out of the AI field. > > > > ***N4*** at 1600 screen-res (OpenGL) with all detail settings to max, > > sitting in pits - Practice Session - Atlanta (first FPS reading) = 118 FPS > > > > ***3DMark2001 Scores*** = 6100's > > > > Lee.....as constructed .....these pure "race boxes" are under $1,500. > > That's a lot of FPS and killer "eye candy" for the price. And, you'll be > > set to "upgrade" almost at will.....and sitting pretty for WSC when its > out. > > > > I hope this has been helpful? > > > > Regards, > > > > Tom Pabst > > > > > > > > > >

For GPL No..unless you add a ton of graphic updates and there is always N4, F1...WSC which all can take an 800hz chip and make it cry for mercy like a baby... dave henrie "Art McEwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9lbue5$hrs$[email hidden]... > >P3/P4/Athlon as fast as you can afford. > > Is there really any benefit to going beyond say 800mhz? > > >

WSC??? Do you really now the specs for WSC ? Have you got the PC demo, the West bros refuse to launch? Al.. Dave Henrie <[email hidden]> a �crit dans le message : 69oe7.18919$[email hidden]... > For GPL No..unless you add a ton of graphic updates and there is always > N4, F1...WSC which all can take an 800hz chip and make it cry for mercylike

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> a baby... > dave henrie > "Art McEwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:9lbue5$hrs$[email hidden]... > > >P3/P4/Athlon as fast as you can afford. > > > > Is there really any benefit to going beyond say 800mhz? > > > > > > > >

Holy shit Tom, you certainly can write a reply :) Rafe Mc On Tue, 14 Aug 2001 19:20:46 GMT, "Tom Pabst" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Lee.... > >Build the best computer you can for the money you have to spend. It will >still run GPL (might allow you to go up to high res tracks, wheels and >cockpits....and still get max FPS too).....but you will be putting yourself >in a position to easily run N4....or WSC in the near future. I'm building >seven "race boxes" right now for some of our staff.....and a couple >"customers"......these guys have essentially unlimited funds......so that is >not an issue. Here's the specs on these (they are all exactly the same) and >I've put the estimated item cost in parenthesis (USD), since that >information is fresh at the moment (I've bought all this stuff in the last >10-days): > >**Mobo: MSI's K7 Master - I use this mobo because it allows over-clocking >the CPU with either changing the FSB or the clock multiplier and it has an >AMD northbridge chipset (761) instead of VIA northbridge. ($155) > >**CPU: AMD Athlon 1.333 "blue core" - I have several of these and easily >get about 1.7 ghz out of them (at 38 C) on the above mobo - change the >clock multiplier on the K7 Master...***NOT the FSB!*** ($120 OEM) > >**CPU Cooler: Swiftech MC462 (with ArcticSilver grease) - This is the best >CPU cooler, no contest...for the price - You have to take a nick out of one >of the corners to clear a pot on the K7 Master....but this takes 10 minutes >with a file or a Dremmel tool. ($100) > >**RAM: 512 mb, PC2100 (two sticks of 256 mb). ($110) > >**Power Supply: Antec PP403X 400w - This is the best ps on the market in my >opinion. It has 245 w across the +5V and the 3.3V which is as much as >triple the competition. ($100) > >**Case: InWin (full tower) ATX (without power supply) - I love these cases, >even though these "race boxes" have minimums for H-drivers, CD and so forth >(they are not used for anything but sim racing), these InWin cases have >slide out mobo trays, soft-rolled steel edges and tons of room inside for >air flow. They are my favorite case for building pure "race boxes." ($55) > >**Fans & thermal sensor: 3 each 90 mm FHO case fans (one "intake" & two >"exhaust"), 1 each 120 mm FHO case fan (side mount - blow hole), 1 thermal >sensor probe - digital LCD read out (mounts on front of case, free standing >probe above video card in center of case to measure internal case temps - >air flow temps). ($100 - total fan package) Note: I buy all my fans from >www.1coolpc.com and have been doing so since 1997. These guys are the >best....but not the cheapest....but for service and great fans that are >quiet...you can't beat them...in my experience at least. (Note: If you buy >fans from 1coolpc....tell Bart (the owner) in the order note pad area that >"Tom Pabst sent you to his site from the r.a.s. newsgroup" and he'll give >you a big break on the shipping costs. And, "no" I'm not getting paid to >say that! Bart and his wife run this small business from home. They are >great people and they search and research for better fans constantly. They >are a small business and I'm recommending them because of the quality of >their fans...and their customer service. No other reason!) > >**IDE Cables: IDE-HD, IDE-CD and floppy - wrapped/sealed. These increase >air flow inside the case by 30 to 50% and produce internal case temps 10 to >15 degrees lower than standard ribbon cables. I buy these at *1coolpc* as >well. ($42) > >**Video: GeForce 3 (Hercules). ($365) > >**Sound: SB Live 5.1 X-Gamer. ($45) > >**Drives/storage: I use a standard package of drives for these "race boxes" >that's a "no frills" set (these are only used for sim racing...so no "trick" >drives is necessary). Usually that's an IBM 40 gig HD, an internal Zip >drive, std floppy and around a 40X CD drive. ($225) > >**LAN/Modem: What ever your ISP or Internet connection requires. ($40) > >Lee.....I am currently sim racing on a "race box" almost exactly like I've >described above. Here's my performance key indicators: > >***GPL*** at 1600 screen-res, back of field start at Mexico...full AI >fields....all sliders to max....high-res cockpits, wheels and 32 bit tracks >= 25 FPS...goes to 36 FPS at the T-1 thin out of the AI field. > >***N4*** at 1600 screen-res (OpenGL) with all detail settings to max, >sitting in pits - Practice Session - Atlanta (first FPS reading) = 118 FPS > >***3DMark2001 Scores*** = 6100's > >Lee.....as constructed .....these pure "race boxes" are under $1,500. >That's a lot of FPS and killer "eye candy" for the price. And, you'll be >set to "upgrade" almost at will.....and sitting pretty for WSC when its out. > >I hope this has been helpful? > >Regards, > >Tom Pabst > > >

Martin Chapman wrote: > I wouldn't have thought GPL would push any modern spec PC. I only have a > K6-2 550 128mb Voodoo 3, SB live and have no troubles. I downloaded GPL demo, installed D3D patch, and game is very, very slow my hardware is K6-2 500, a lot of ram, V3 and Live, why? is demo so bad? -- Don't care which God you follow Whose promises you swallow Time and again We must meet at the end "Lord of the Last Day" - Ronnie James Dio

Not the bog standard GPL, but with all the bells and whistles patches added, which make it look gorgeous, I get 19FPS at the back of the grid with a 1.2 Ghz Athlon & Geforce2. So the more CPU power the better. Shame the Direct3D patch doesn't support Hardware T&L or I think it would run at full speed.

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>hi >I wouldn't have thought GPL would push any modern spec PC. I only have a >K6-2 550 128mb Voodoo 3, SB live and have no troubles. >if I had a 1.4 ghz I still wouldn't be able to drive ;o) > >Cheers >Martin >"Lee Ward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >> Hi all, >> >> Due to coming into a bit of extra money, I am thinking of building a new >> computer which will be used for GPL only. I do race GPL on-line as well >> as on my own. >> >> What recommendations do people have as to the hardware: >> >> MoBo >> Processor >> Memory >> Video Card >> Sound Card >> etc. >> >> Racing is life......anything before or after is just waiting >> Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) Le Mans 1970 >> -- >> Lee Ward E-mail: [email hidden] >> >> GPLFD TEAM CHAD - You can count on us. >> EUROF2 LADS RACING - Old enough to know better. >> >

Intersting Bish, I only have a 1ghz P3 Intel cpu & my fps never goes below 34-36fps even at the worse 'cpu eating tracks' at the back with all cars, tracks, graphics addons etc loaded. My res is 1200x1600 Maybe you better check something there? "Bish Bash" wrote: | Not the bog standard GPL, but with all the bells and whistles patches | added, which make it look gorgeous, I get 19FPS at the back of the | grid with a 1.2 Ghz Athlon & Geforce2. | | So the more CPU power the better. Shame the Direct3D patch doesn't | support Hardware T&L or I think it would run at full speed. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.265 / Virus Database: 137 - Release Date: 7/18/2001

If you're using a V3... why not use the Glide renderer instead? The propriety API will still outperform D3D as far as frame rate is concerned. Also, I thought there was an issue on machines having a memory capacity in excess of a certain value. Requiring one to set replay memory size to a higher value than default or some such (have to refer you to others actually affected by the problem on this one). Jan. =--- "Pay attention when I'm talking to you boy!" -Foghorn Leghorn. "Jacek Pop�awski" wrote...

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> <snip> > I downloaded GPL demo, installed D3D patch, and game is very, > very slow my hardware is K6-2 500, a lot of ram, V3 and Live, > why? is demo so bad? > > -- > Don't care which God you follow > Whose promises you swallow > Time and again > We must meet at the end > "Lord of the Last Day" - Ronnie James Dio

I wasn't aware that the d3d patch even worked with the demo. Your K6 is a couple of chip-generations old...it will run GPL, but if you want to try other even newer sims....you'd better start saving.. dave henrie "Jacek Pop�awski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Martin Chapman wrote: > > I wouldn't have thought GPL would push any modern spec PC. I only have a > > K6-2 550 128mb Voodoo 3, SB live and have no troubles. > > I downloaded GPL demo, installed D3D patch, and game is very, very slow > my hardware is K6-2 500, a lot of ram, V3 and Live, why? is demo so bad? > > -- > Don't care which God you follow > Whose promises you swallow > Time and again > We must meet at the end "Lord of the Last Day" - Ronnie James

Dio

You want FANS Tom? Check out the last page of the next issue of Maximum Computer....something like 28 fans with a custom paintjob on the box to boot... even a fan bus switch to turn off the noisey fans for conversational purposes.. dave henrie "Tom Pabst" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:iSee7.1320$[email hidden]... > Lee.... > > Build the best computer you can for the money you have to spend. It will > still run GPL (might allow you to go up to high res tracks, wheels and > cockpits....and still get max FPS too).....but you will be puttingyourself > in a position to easily run N4....or WSC in the near future. I'm building > seven "race boxes" right now for some of our staff.....and a couple > "customers"......these guys have essentially unlimited funds......so thatis > not an issue. Here's the specs on these (they are all exactly the same)and

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> I've put the estimated item cost in parenthesis (USD), since that > information is fresh at the moment (I've bought all this stuff in the last > 10-days): > > **Mobo: MSI's K7 Master - I use this mobo because it allows over-clocking > the CPU with either changing the FSB or the clock multiplier and it has an > AMD northbridge chipset (761) instead of VIA northbridge. ($155) > > **CPU: AMD Athlon 1.333 "blue core" - I have several of these and easily > get about 1.7 ghz out of them (at 38 C) on the above mobo - change the > clock multiplier on the K7 Master...***NOT the FSB!*** ($120 OEM) > > **CPU Cooler: Swiftech MC462 (with ArcticSilver grease) - This is the

best > CPU cooler, no contest...for the price - You have to take a nick out ofone > of the corners to clear a pot on the K7 Master....but this takes 10minutes > with a file or a Dremmel tool. ($100) > > **RAM: 512 mb, PC2100 (two sticks of 256 mb). ($110) > > **Power Supply: Antec PP403X 400w - This is the best ps on the market inmy > opinion. It has 245 w across the +5V and the 3.3V which is as much as > triple the competition. ($100) > > **Case: InWin (full tower) ATX (without power supply) - I love thesecases, > even though these "race boxes" have minimums for H-drivers, CD and soforth > (they are not used for anything but sim racing), these InWin cases have > slide out mobo trays, soft-rolled steel edges and tons of room inside for > air flow. They are my favorite case for building pure "race boxes."($55) > > **Fans & thermal sensor: 3 each 90 mm FHO case fans (one "intake" & two > "exhaust"), 1 each 120 mm FHO case fan (side mount - blow hole), 1 thermal > sensor probe - digital LCD read out (mounts on front of case, freestanding > probe above video card in center of case to measure internal case temps - > air flow temps). ($100 - total fan package) Note: I buy all my fansfrom > www.1coolpc.com and have been doing so since 1997. These guys are the > best....but not the cheapest....but for service and great fans that are > quiet...you can't beat them...in my experience at least. (Note: If youbuy > fans from 1coolpc....tell Bart (the owner) in the order note pad area that > "Tom Pabst sent you to his site from the r.a.s. newsgroup" and he'll give > you a big break on the shipping costs. And, "no" I'm not getting paid to > say that! Bart and his wife run this small business from home. They are > great people and they search and research for better fans constantly.They > are a small business and I'm recommending them because of the quality of > their fans...and their customer service. No other reason!) > > **IDE Cables: IDE-HD, IDE-CD and floppy - wrapped/sealed. These increase > air flow inside the case by 30 to 50% and produce internal case temps 10to

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> 15 degrees lower than standard ribbon cables. I buy these at *1coolpc* as > well. ($42) > > **Video: GeForce 3 (Hercules). ($365) > > **Sound: SB Live 5.1 X-Gamer. ($45) > > **Drives/storage: I use a standard package of drives for these "race

boxes" > that's a "no frills" set (these are only used for sim racing...so no"trick"

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> drives is necessary). Usually that's an IBM 40 gig HD, an internal Zip > drive, std floppy and around a 40X CD drive. ($225) > > **LAN/Modem: What ever your ISP or Internet connection requires. ($40) > > Lee.....I am currently sim racing on a "race box" almost exactly like I've > described above. Here's my performance key indicators: > > ***GPL*** at 1600 screen-res, back of field start at Mexico...full AI > fields....all sliders to max....high-res cockpits, wheels and 32 bit

tracks

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> = 25 FPS...goes to 36 FPS at the T-1 thin out of the AI field. > > ***N4*** at 1600 screen-res (OpenGL) with all detail settings to max, > sitting in pits - Practice Session - Atlanta (first FPS reading) = 118 FPS > > ***3DMark2001 Scores*** = 6100's > > Lee.....as constructed .....these pure "race boxes" are under $1,500. > That's a lot of FPS and killer "eye candy" for the price. And, you'll be > set to "upgrade" almost at will.....and sitting pretty for WSC when its

out.

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> > I hope this has been helpful? > > Regards, > > Tom Pabst > > > >

Lee Ward wrote:

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> > Hi all, > > Due to coming into a bit of extra money, I am thinking of building a new > computer which will be used for GPL only. I do race GPL on-line as well > as on my own. > > What recommendations do people have as to the hardware: > > MoBo > Processor > Memory > Video Card > Sound Card > etc. > > Racing is life......anything before or after is just waiting > Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) Le Mans 1970 > -- > Lee Ward E-mail: [email hidden]

Since it's going to be a GPL only puter... Cheap route: Mobo Good KT133A board 90 Very happy with my Epox 8KTA3 Chip AMD "Duron" 800+ 50 With heatsink/fan Ram 128M PC150 CAS2 20 Fast ram gives you more O/C options Case Mid tower, 300W ps 35 Look for AMD certified power supply Video Voodoo3 35 Minimal but cheap. Fine for GPL. Sound Decent PCI card 20 Not sure what's good w. GPL. The Spendy route Mobo AMD 760 based. 125+ Best performing DDR chipset. See www.athlonmb.com CPU T-Bird 1.33 120 Overclockable to 1.5+ Fan ??? 30 Fast AMD chips make lots of heat. Get a Big assed heatsink/fan. Not sure what the current cooler king is... see www.hardocp.com Ram 256M of PC2100 50 Get name brand stuff. Crucial, etc. Case 400W PS isn't overkill 55 Large PS cases are dropping in price. Video Voodoo5 100 Still the best for GPL. FSAA is a VERY good thing. Sound Sound Blaster Live 50+ My SB-Live basic is flawless. Add wheel, mouse, KB, monitor and speakers to taste..... -Greg ============ Anti-Spam measures have been taken! Remove duplicate letters to reply.

Dave Henrie wrote: > I wasn't aware that the d3d patch even worked with the demo. Your K6 is a > couple of chip-generations old...it will run GPL, but if you want to try > other even newer sims....you'd better start saving.. I _can_ buy newer system, but I am not sure what should I choose, probably I will wait for better motherboards for Athlon, however I wanted to check that GPL, and I was disapointed - it works so slow... patch works with demo, I just copy patch file to rast3dfx.dll and set "3Dfx" and it works (when I choose 3dfx before patch - game didn't start) -- I hate you and you hate me And everybody smiles So money talks and no-one walks But everybody's crawling "Evilution" - Ronnie James Dio

I'd liked to thank everyone who answered my request for information. Once again this newsgroup had prove how friendly it is. Thanks again Lee In article <[email hidden]>, Lee Ward <[email hidden]> writes

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>Hi all, > >Due to coming into a bit of extra money, I am thinking of building a new >computer which will be used for GPL only. I do race GPL on-line as well >as on my own. > >What recommendations do people have as to the hardware: > >MoBo >Processor >Memory >Video Card >Sound Card >etc. > >Racing is life......anything before or after is just waiting > Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) Le Mans 1970

Racing is life......anything before or after is just waiting Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) Le Mans 1970 -- Lee Ward E-mail: [email hidden] GPLFD TEAM CHAD - You can count on us. EUROF2 LADS RACING - Old enough to know better.

What card have you got? Voodoo or Geforce? Are you using the highest graphic details settings?

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>Intersting Bish, I only have a 1ghz P3 Intel cpu & my fps never goes >below 34-36fps even at the worse 'cpu eating tracks' at the back with >all cars, tracks, graphics addons etc loaded. My res is 1200x1600 >Maybe you better check something there? > >"Bish Bash" wrote: >| Not the bog standard GPL, but with all the bells and whistles patches >| added, which make it look gorgeous, I get 19FPS at the back of the >| grid with a 1.2 Ghz Athlon & Geforce2. >| >| So the more CPU power the better. Shame the Direct3D patch doesn't >| support Hardware T&L or I think it would run at full speed.

Hi again Bish, Ok, GF2GTS'Pro and yup all is loaded as I said before. I always max my my sims-games graphically. It's kinda a drawback of mine or maybe it's an asset? :) Oops I do drop down the mirror detail sometimes like in N4 but thats it.. All is well on my sims! -Thom_j. "Bish Bash" wrote:

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| What card have you got? Voodoo or Geforce? Are you using the highest | graphic details settings? | | | >Intersting Bish, I only have a 1ghz P3 Intel cpu & my fps never goes | >below 34-36fps even at the worse 'cpu eating tracks' at the back with | >all cars, tracks, graphics addons etc loaded. My res is 1200x1600 | >Maybe you better check something there? | > | >"Bish Bash" wrote: | >| Not the bog standard GPL, but with all the bells and whistles patches | >| added, which make it look gorgeous, I get 19FPS at the back of the | >| grid with a 1.2 Ghz Athlon & Geforce2. | >| | >| So the more CPU power the better. Shame the Direct3D patch doesn't | >| support Hardware T&L or I think it would run at full speed. |

--- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.265 / Virus Database: 137 - Release Date: 7/18/2001